Shovon, Rabbani after Ouster: Faithfuls flip overnight

In a span of two days, former Chhatra League president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and general secretary Golam Rabbani have not only lost their posts, but also their followers. 

It took only hours for many “staunch” supporters of Shovon-Rabbani to become loyal to the newly appointed leaders, reflecting the harsh reality of politics.

A female leader of central Chhatra League, who posted a status on September 11 applauding Rabbani, last night posted a status congratulating Al Nahian Khan Joy, newly appointed acting president of Chhatra League. It read, “Congratulation Joy bhai, you deserve it.”

Nahian and Shovon went to Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) around 1:00am yesterday to meet some leaders and activists waiting there.

As soon as they arrived, the activists started chanting slogans welcoming only Nahian, ignoring Shovon beside him.

Meanwhile, a group of general students and left-leaning student organisations of Dhaka University yesterday demonstrated on the campus demanding removal of Rabbani from the general secretary post of Dhaka University Central Student’ Union (Ducsu), referring to his moral degradation.

They also demanded suspension of Shovon from the senate on the same grounds. 

Talking to The Daily Star, Ducsu Vice-President Nurul Haque Nur said, “As various allegations have been brought against Golam Rabbani and he was removed from his organisational post, I think he lost the moral grounds to be in Ducsu’s post.” 

He said he already had met the Ducsu President and DU VC Prof  Md Akhtaruzzaman and requested him to call a meeting to take decision in this regard.   

Contacted, Prof Akhtaruzzaman said, “Ducsu is a representative of the students and it has a constitution, so it will run as per it’s constitution.” 

But there are no clear instructions in the Ducsu constitution on the moral degradation of a member. The constitution says, “The president shall have power at any time in the best interest of union to dismiss any office bearer or member of Executive Committee or to dissolve the Executive Committee as a whole and call for fresh election.”

NEW LEADERS WARN ACTION AGAINST EXTORTIONIST

The new acting president Nahian yesterday warned of stern actions against those BCL men who would be found involved in extortion.

“If we get evidence of extortion or tender manipulation against any BCL man, the Chhatra League will take action against him or her,” he said at a press briefing at the DU’s Madhur Canteen yesterday.

Nahian also said he would lead the organisation as per the instructions of the prime minister.

Briefing reporters, newly BCL acting general secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee said it would be a big challenge for the new president and general secretary to form different committees and arrange the next council of the Chhatra League within 10 months.

Shovon and Rabbani were removed from the posts of BCL president and general secretary for their controversial activities on Saturday night.

Chhatra League Senior Vice-President Al Nahian Khan Joy and Joint General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee have been given the charges of acting president and general secretary.